Palmer



Feb. 14, 1956 c. PALMER 2,734,618

TABLES FOR FEEDING METAL BARS y CHARLES PALMER ATTO NEY Feb. 14, 1956 c. PALMER 27 34,618

TABLES FOR FEEDING METAL BARS F'iled Aug. 10, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

By CHARLES PAL1ER ATTORNEY Feb. 14, 1956 c. PALMER 2,734,618

TABLES FOR FEEDING ME'I'AL BARS Filed Aug. 10, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet :s

United States Patent TABLES FOR FEEDING NIETAL BARS Charles Palmer, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 10, 1951, Serial No. 241,323

7 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) Ths invention relates to tables for feeding metal bars, as employed for example in connection with rolling mills, and more particularly to roller tables for the type includng a mechanism for shifting the position of a bar on the table.

The princpal function of an ordinary roller table is to support a bar and to move the bar longitudinally. In many cases, however, it is necessary to impart other movements to the bar. Thus, in the feeding of square billets to certain types of rolling mlls, each billet must be turned approximately 45 degrees about ts axis in order that it may enter the roll pass properly. In the feedng of slabs, which are of rectangular cross section, it is often desirable to turn each slab 180 degrees and thereby dump any scale or slag whch may have accumulated on its upper surface or to arrange a bent slab with ts convex side downward at the entrance to a furnace. At times it is desirable to move a bar broadside in order to align it properly with a roll pass, or perhaps to discharge the bar entirely from the table.

Various mechanisms have been provided heretofore for performing one or more of these operations upon a bar. In general, however, the prior mechanisms have been complicated, expensive, and somewhat unreliable. Furthermore, these mechanisms have usually been adapted to perform only one particular operation, and in some cases only upon 21 bar of a particular shape and size and in some cases they do not permit continuous operation. Ths has greatly limited ther usefulness.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a bar feeding table of a comparatively smple, nexpensive and dependable construction, which will not only move a bar longitudinally but also serve to shift the position of the bar in a desired manner.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bar feeding table including a simple and rugged mechanism for turning square billets 45 degrees about their axes or for turning slabs 180 degrees about their axes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bar feeding table includng a mechanism of a relatively simple and dependable nature capable not only of turning bars about their axes but also of moving the bars broadside.

Wth these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combinaton of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a feeding table comprisng a series of spaced horizontal rollers arranged to support a metal bar, the rollers preferably being driven by a suitable power means in order that the bar may be moved longitudinally.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a table for feeding metal bars, showing a square billet in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sctional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is fragmentary sectional view on a still larger scale, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic transverse views illustrating the operation of the table in turning a billet 45 degrees about ts axs; and

Figs. 7 to 10 nclusive are diagrammatc transverse views illustratng the operation of a slightly modified form of the apparatus in turning a slab 180 degrees about ts axis.

As shown partcularly in Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a table comprising a series of horizontal cylindrical rollers 15 arranged to support a generally horizontal metal billet B and to move the same longitudinally. The rollers are spaced from one another in the direction of billet travel, with their axes extending transversely of the billet. Bach roller is provided with a central shaft 16 which is rotatably mounted in a pair of bearings 17-17 at opposite ends of the roller. These bearings are supported by two spaced parallel beams 19 and 20 extending lengthwise of the table. Each shaft 16 carres on one end thereof a bevel gear 21, these gears meshng with bevel pinions 23 mounted on a horizontal main drive shaf: 24 whch is rotated by a sutable electric motor or the like (not shown).

Uncler some crcurnstances it is necessary to shift the position of the billet B on the rollers 15 while it is traveling longitudinally over the rollers. Thus, when the table is being used to feed billets to a rolling mll, each billet may have to be turned 45 degrees about ts axis so that it may enter the rolling mill in the proper position. For this purpose certain idler rollers are located between the table rollers 15 in position to engage the billet and to move t in the desired manner, these idler rollers being fully rotatable about axes which are generally upright and preferably substantially vertical, at opposite sides of the billet.

In the preferred embodiment llustrated there are shown two idler rollers 26 at one side of the billet, and one idler roller 27 at the other side of the billet and staggered with respect to the rollers 26. Each of the rollers 26 and 27 is freely rotatable about a vertical axs located midway between two of the table rollers 15. Bach idler roller has an upper surface shaped as a frustum of a cone converging upwardly with an included angle of approximately degrees. For adjustment to various sizes, shapes or positions of the billet B, and for manipulaton of the billet in a desired marmer, each idler roller is so supported that it can be rnoved not only vertically but also horizontally in a direcion at right angles to the line of billet travel.

The structure for supporting and moving the roller 27 is shown in Figs. 1 to 4. A generally rectangular frame 29 is mounted on the beams 19 and 29 between two of the table rollers i5, this frame having two horizontal flanges 3@ on its upper portion which are slightly below the billet and overlap the adjacent portions of the table rollers. The frame 29 provides two opposed horizontal rails 31 extending at right angles to the line of billet travel and forming a supporting guicleway for a horizontally slidable carriage 33. F-or actuation of the car riage there is provided a double-acting fluid motor comprising a horizontal cylinder 34 atta-cned. at one eml to the frame 29, with a reciprocable piston rod 35 connected to the carriage. The upper portion of the carriage 33 is in the form of a horizontal plate 37 lying between the two flange 33. The main body of the carriage provides a Vertical guideway 38 of generally square cross section, within whch a generally square hollow crosshead 39 is slidable vertically. Ths crosshead is actuated by a double-acting fluid motor comprisng a vertical cylinder 41 secured at its upper end to the bottom of the carriage 33, and a piston rod 42 connected at its upper end to the crosshead. The adrnission of pressure fluid to the ends of the cylinclers 34 and 41, and the exhaust of the fiuid therefrom, will be controlled in known manner by means of suitable fourway valves and connecting conduits (not shown). The conduits for the cylinder 41 will of course be of the flexible type to permit the cylinder to move with the carriage 33'. The roller 27 is provided with a central supporting shaft il which extends downwardly into the upper portion of the crosshead 39, where the shaft is rotatably supported by suitable antifriction bearings 46 and 47.

Each of the idler rollers 26 is supported in a manner similar to that described above in connection with the roller 27. Thus each roller 26 is rotatably mounted on a crosshead (not shown) which is slidable vertically in a guideway 49 forrned in a carriage 50. The carriage is slidable horzontally on rails 51 provided on a frame 53, which in turn is supported on the bearns 19 and 29. The carriage can be moved along the rails 51 by a fluid motor 54, and the crosshead can be moved vertically in the guideway 49 by means of: a fluid motor 55.

in the operation of this ernbodirnent, the idler rollers 26 will ordinarly remain in the rased positions indicated, whereas the idler rollers 27 will be in the lowered position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5. As the billet B is moved longitudinally by the table rollers 15, it will travel with its left side close to the idler rollers 26 and its right side above the idler roller 27 (Fig. 5). After the front end of. the billet has passed the second roller 26, the billet can be turned 45 degrees about its axis by merely raising the idler roller 27 to the position shown in Fig. 6. During this movement the rollers 25 Will prevent the billet from sliding to the left, while the roller 27 will lift the right side of the billet until the 45 degree turn has been completed. At this time the lower corner of the billet preferably tests on the table rollers 15, which continue to aclvanee the .billet longitudinally, wnile the idler rollers 26 and 27 are free to rotate from the contact with the billet as they held the billet in the correct position until its front end has enterecl the first stand of a rolling rnll (net shown). Obviously, with the roller 27 lowered, a billet can be pushed broadside along the table rollers 15 by appropriate horizontal movement of the rollers 26.

If the table is to handle bars such as slabs, which in sorne cases must be turned 180 degrees about their axes, a somewhat modified shape is desirable for the idler rollers. For this purpose the rollers 2 and 27 are re* placed by rollers 56 and 57, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. These rolers 56 and 57 as illustrated have upwardly converging frusto-conical upper portions. The lower portions 58 of the rollers 56 are likewise frustoconical and converge at a rather small angle in the upward direction. The lower porion 59 of the roller 57 is also frustoconical and converges at a similar small angle in the downward direction.

ln the operaton of this emboclirnent, the idler rollers 56 Will ordinarily remain in their rased position. As a slab S approaches. along the table rollers 5, it will travel with its left edge close to the rollers 56, with its right edge abo've the lowered roller 57 (Fig. 7).

To turn over the slab, the roller 57 will be rased to lift tl.c riglit edge of the slab (Fig. 8) and then rnoved to the left to turn the slab slightly beyond the vertical position (Fig. 9). lre angle of the lower surfaces 53 and 5% of the rollers will deterrnine this position of the slab. The rollers 56 will now be moved to the left until the slab has tippecl clownward. to the left, and the original upper surface of the slab is at r 1e bottom and rests on the tabie rollers l).

\vnn the roller 57 lowered, a slab can be pushed braad side means the. rollers 56. L; t beeomes neeessary to push a slab te tre left, the rollers S canbe lowered and moved to the right beneath the slab, whereupon they can be rased and movedto the left asrequired to produce the desired slab rnovernent.

The invention is relatively simple, inexpensive, and thoroughly dependable. It is adapted for handling bars of various shapes and sizes, and capable of irnparting various movements to such bars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A table for feedng metal bars of polygonal crosssectional shape, comprising: a series of spaced, parallel, horizontal rollers for supporting a bar, means for rotating the rollers for feeding the bar longitudinally, idler rollers located on opposite sides of the line of travel of the bar, each idler roller being freely rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a first means for moving one idler roller on one side of the bar vertically independently of a second roller on the other side of the bar, and a second means for rnoving the said one idler roller horizontally independently of the said second roller, the first and second means being operable independently of one another.

2. A table for feedng metal bars of polygonal crosssectional shape, comprising: a series of spaced, parallel, horizontal rollers for supporting a bar, means for rotating the roller for feeding the bar longitudinally, idler rollers located on opposite sides of the line of travel of the bar, each idler roller being formed in its upper portion with a surface of upwardly-converging frusto-conical shape and being freely rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a first means for moving one idler roller on one side of the bar vertically independently of a second roller on the other side of the bar, and a second means for moving the said one idler roller horizontally independ ently of the said second roller, the said first and second means being operable independently of. one another.

3. A table f0r feeding metal slabs of elongatedrectangular cross-section, comprising: a series of spaced, parallel, horizontal rollers for supportinga slab, means for rotating the rollers for feeding the slab longitudinally, idler rollers located on opposte sides of the line of travel of the slab, each idler roller being freely rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, means for rnoving an idler roller on one side of the slab vertically and laterally of the slab independently of the roller on the other side of the slab, the idler roller which is subject to vertical and horizontal movernent being formed in part with a surface of downwardly-corrverging frustoconical shape.

4. A table or feeding a metal bar of rectangular crosssection, comprising: a series of spaced, parallel, horizontal rollers or supporting the bar, means for rotating the rollers for feeding the bar longitudinally, idler rollers located on opposite sides of the line of travel of the bar, each idler roller being formed in its upper portion with a surface of upwardly-converging frusto-conical shape and being freely rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, means for moving an idler roller on one side of the bar vertically and laterally of the bar independently of the roller on the other side of the bar, the idler roller which is subject to vertical and horizontal movement being forrned in its lower part with a surface of downwardly-converging, frusto-conical shape.

5. A table for feeding metal bars of polygonal crosssectional shape, comprising: a series of spaced', parallel, horizontal rollers for supporting a bar, means for rotating the roller for feeding the bar longitudinally, idler rollers located on opposite sides of the line of travel of the bar, each idler roller being formed in its upper por tion with a surface of upwardly-convergiug frusto-conical shape and being freely rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a first double-acting hydraulic motor for moving one idler roller on one side of the bar vertically independently of a second roller 011 the other side of the bar, and. a secom'. double-acting hydraulic motor for moving the said one. idler roller horizontally independently of the said second roller, the said first and second meters being operable ndependently of one another.

6. A table for feeding a metal bar of rectangular crosssection, comprising: a series of spaced, parallel, horizontal rollers for supporting the bar, means for rotating the rollers for feeding the bar longitudinally, idler rollers located on opposite sides of the line of travel of the bar, each idler roller being formed in its upper porton with a surface of upwardly-converging frust0-concal shape and being freely rotatable about a substantially vertical axs, means for moving an idler roller on one side of the bar vertically and laterally of the bar independently of the roller on the other side of the bar, the sad idler roller which is subject to vertical and horizontal movement being formed in its lower part with a surface of downwardly-converging, frusto-conical shape, the sad roller on the other side of the bar being formed in its lower part with a surface of upwardly-converging frusto-conical shape having a subtended angle considerably less than its upper porton.

7. A table for feedng a metal bar of rectangular crosssecton, comprising: a series of spaced, parallel, horizontal rollers for supporting the bar, means for rotating the rollers for feeding the bar longitudinally, idler rollers located on opposite sides of the line of travel of the bar, each idler roller being forrned in its upper porton with a surface of upwardly-converging frusto-conical shape and being freely rotatable about a substantially vertcal axis, double-acting hydraulic motors for movng an idler roller on one side of the bar vertcally and laterally of the bar independently of the roller on the other side of the bar, the sad idler roller which is subject to vertical and horizontal movement being formed in its lower part with a surface of downwardly-converging, frusto-conical shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,791,962 Holtus Feb. 10, 1931 2,649,003 Peterson Aug. 18, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 575,675 Germany May 2, 1933 673,480 Germany Mar. 23, 1939 

